10. Von Miller

Von Miller is the only active NFL player to make this list. Miller is a 2x Super Bowl champion, 3x All-Pro, Super Bowl MVP and 8x Pro Bowler. He is a nightmare for opposing offenses with his ability to quickly shed would-be blockers and attack the quarterback. At age 34, Miller is showing no signs of slowing down as he finished the 2022 season with 8 sacks.

*Career Stats:

123.5 sacks

431 solo tackles

27 forced fumbles

9. James Harrison

James Harrison‘s journey to becoming an elite outside linebacker is a testament to his perseverance. Undrafted and underestimated, Harrison’s work ethic and desire to win propelled him to become a 2x Super Bowl champion. He also had one of the most iconic plays in NFL history, his 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII.

Career Stats:

84.5 sacks

583 solo tackles

34 forced fumbles

8. Rickey Jackson

Rickey Jackson may not have sought the spotlight, but his on-field performance spoke volumes. Jackson was a crucial part of the New Orleans Saints famed “Dome Patrol” linebacking corps. His ability to disrupt plays and create turnovers helped pave the way for the Saints defensive success. He is a 1x Super Bowl champ and Hall of Famer.

Career Stats:

136 sacks

1173 solo tackles

40 forced fumbles

7. Kevin Greene

Kevin Greene‘s relentless pursuit of quarterbacks made him one of the most feared pass rushers in NFL history. The former Pittsburgh Steeler had 160 sacks over his 15-year career. Greene’s explosive first step and tenacious spirit earned him the 1996 Defensive Player of the Year award. His ability to disrupt plays and force turnovers remains legendary.

Career Stats:

160 sacks

669 solo tackles

23 forced fumbles

6. DeMarcus Ware

DeMarcus Ware‘s combination of speed and power made him a nightmare for offensive linemen. His proficiency in both rushing the passer and defending against the run solidified his reputation as one of the best to ever do it. With nine seasons of double-digit sacks, Ware’s impact on the Dallas Cowboys and later the Denver Broncos was indisputable.

Career Stats:

138.5 sacks

505 solo tackles

35 forced fumbles

5. Ted Hendricks

At 6’7″, Ted Hendricks was a mountain of a man at the outside linebacker position. His exceptional wingspan allowed him to swat down passes and disrupt opposing offenses in ways no other linebacker could. A Hall of Famer and a key figure in the dominant Raiders defenses of the 70s. Hendricks was a 4x Super Bowl champ and 4x All-Pro.

Career Stats:

61 sacks

4. Junior Seau

The late great Junior Seau‘s passion for the game was unmatched. His boundless energy and tenacity made him a tackling machine at the outside linebacker position. With an uncanny ability to diagnose plays and a knack for delivering bone-crushing hits, Seau earned 12 Pro Bowl selections and remains an NFL icon.

Career Stats:

56.5 sacks

1522 solo tackles

11 forced fumbles

3. Jack Ham

Jack Ham was a key component of the Pittsburgh Steelers Steel Curtain defense. Ham’s intelligence on the field allowed him to read plays, intercept passes, and neutralize tight ends with ease. Ham was no doubt one of the best coverage outside linebackers we have seen in the NFL. He was a 4x Super Bowl champ and 6x All-Pro.

Career Stats:

25.5 sacks

32 interceptions

2. Derrick Thomas

Derrick Thomas was a force to be reckoned with. Armed with an unparalleled ability to sack quarterbacks, he holds the record for the most sacks in a single game at 7. His speed off the edge and his uncanny knack for creating turnovers made him a nightmare for opposing offenses and a cornerstone of the Kansas City Chiefs defense.

Career Stats:

126.5 sacks

599 solo tackles

41 forced fumbles

1. Lawrence Taylor

Regarded by many as the prototypical outside linebacker, Lawrence Taylor‘s impact on the NFL is immeasurable. With lightning-fast speed and a ferocious playing style, Taylor redefined the position by becoming a dual threat against both the run and the pass. His ability to disrupt quarterbacks and change the course of a game earned him 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards. Taylor was 8x All-Pro and 2x Super Bowl champion.

Career Stats:

126.5 sacks

599 solo tackles

41 forced fumbles

* = Active NFL player

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By: Jake Rajala

Unearthly quarterbacks highlight the NFL, but let’s not forget about the presence of the pass rushers that prey on sacking opposing quarterbacks. There have undoubtedly been illustrious QB hunters in the history of the NFL. The top pass rusher of all time is unequivocally Lawrence Taylor. LT showed an impressive amount of controlled rage in his rookie season – as he won Defensive Rookie of The Year & Defensive Player of The Year. Taylor would then win DPOY in his sophomore season and even proceed to win NFL MVP in 1986. In fact, Taylor is the last defender to win MVP.

With that enunciated, I’m going to untwine the next best nine-pass rushers of all time.

2. Reggie White

Reggie White, also known as J.J. Watt before J.J. Watt, was a freak of nature for the Philadelphia Eagles. White registered three 18+ sack seasons in his first four years as a pro. Yes, you read that correctly. Furthermore, he garnered 21 sacks in 12 games in 1987 – which is obviously the most sacks ever by a defender in a 12-game span. He garnered eight first-team All-Pro nods in his career. He also won DPOY twice in his NFL journey.

3. Deacon Jones

The greek god-like defender, Deacon Jones, started his journey all the way back in the 60s. Nonetheless, he still mopped the floor against opposing QBs. He unveiled four seasons of 19+ sacks in his Rams tenure. He obtained 173.5 sacks in his career, as well. Strangely, he never won DPOY in his HOF career.

4. Bruce Smith

The man with 200 sacks (the record for the most career sacks), Bruce Smith, was a gift to the Buffalo Bills from the football gods. He has the same tally of first-team All-Pro nods as White. He won DPOY in 1990 & 1996. Smith has ousted an undeniably insane 13 seasons of 10+ sacks in his career – which is also an NFL record! Smith was blatantly dominant, an athletic freak, and a beacon of consistency.

5. Aaron Donald

It’s hard to deny the consistent damage that Aaron Donald unleashes on opposing offensive lines. AD has been first-team All-Pro seven times in his eight-year career! Furthermore, he’s won DPOY three times! In 2018, Donald somehow unveiled 18.5 sacks and 41 QB hits, from the DT spot. He really shined in Super Bowl LVI – where he ousted two sacks (which included a sack on the Rams last play on defense). The scary part is that Donald is still seeking more vengeance in the league.

6. Michael Strahan

The legendary New York Giants edge rusher Michael Strahan holds the record for the most sacks in a 16-game season (with 22.5 sacks) and he won DPOY in the same season. Strahan also had a potent sack season in 2018 – where he obtained 18.5 sacks. It’s also extremely important to note that the four-time All-Pro is a Super Bowl champion. Of course, Strahan also co-hosts “Good Morning America”.

7. J.J. Watt

J.J. Watt is unequivocally one of the best walk-on stories in college football. Watt proved to be a workhorse and gifted pass rusher at the professional level. He played with his hair on fire in 2012 – as he picked up 20.5 sacks and won DPOY. He decided to win DPOY in 2014 and in 2015, too. Watt has been named first-team All-Pro five times in his NFL career. He’s also shown off his ability to catch touchdowns in the past.

8. Kevin Greene

The former Rams pass rusher Kevin Greene was an absolute maniac on the football field. After having a mere zero sacks in his first season, Greene opted to transform into a mythical pass rusher. Greene registered a 16.5 sack campaign in 1988 and another 16.5 sack season in 1989. Impressively, he boasted 10 seasons of 10+ sacks. He displayed six seasons of 13+ sacks. Greene has unveiled 160 career sacks – which is quite a feat.

9. Derrick Thomas

Derrick Thomas sadly didn’t play for a long period of time – due to his early passing in 2000. Although, Thomas was still a nightmare pass-rusher in his lifetime, to say the least. The former Kansas City Chief knocked out a 20-sack season in 15 games as a sophomore. Thomas unleashed seven 10+ sack seasons in his 11-year career. He was quite proficient at forcing fumbles (with six FFs in 1990 and 8 FFs in 1992). In addition, he made nine straight Pro Bowls in the NFL.

10. Julius Peppers

Julius Peppers played for an eternity and he wreaked havoc in each phase of his career. He kicked off his career by winning DROY while playing 12 games! Peppers managed to unveil 10 seasons of 10+ sacks. He had 159.5 sacks as a whole. He has made an absolutely impressive nine Pro Bowls in his football life. Peppers truly resembles the Alien – except he might be more explosive than the extraterrestrial character.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons unleashed 13 sacks, 30 QB hits, 3 FF, and 84 combined tackles — which led him to win DROY. Parsons’s rookie season garnered him comparisons to the legendary Lawrence Taylor — who was named first-team All-Pro and won DPOY as a rookie. With that said, I’m going to sound the trumpets for three reasons why Parsons can take a step forward and win DPOY next season.

• Strength of schedule

The Boys should feel very excited about their 31st-ranked strength of schedule next season. Parsons should plan on mopping the floor in each match-up. Aaron Donald really capitalized off pedestrian competition in his last DPOY campaign, so Parsons shouldn’t feel guilty about racking up the stats against weak competition. Parsons should anticipate being able to dominate against the Carson Wentz-led Commanders and young, rebuilding Giants next season.

• Growth

Parsons gained a year of experience and he should be able to react faster in his sophomore season. The Cowboys LB is also a workaholic, as he worked out with Demarcus Ware this off-season. Per SI, Parsons stated, “It’s going to be more challenging. But I never back down from a challenge”. Perhaps Parsons is actually ready to be an LB that embodies a 99 overall grade on Madden.

• Aging Aaron Donald

The highest-paid non-QB in NFL history, Aaron Donald, has won DPOY in three of the past five seasons. Donald was an All-Pro player in 2021, but he didn’t win DPOY. In fact, Parsons (5) snagged more votes than the 31-year-old Donald (3 votes) last season. I believe Parsons is trending in the opposite direction as Donald. With that said, it may be a close race between Parsons and T.J. Watt for DPOY honors.

The post 3 reasons why Micah Parsons could win DPOY appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Daniel Racz @Danny___Dimes

Introduction

The debate for the title of the Greatest of all time, or GOAT for short,  always causes division within the sports fandom community. In the National Football League, there is less discourse than in other sports because Tom Brady has distanced himself from the pack in the eyes of the crowd. His seven super bowl rings, more than any individual franchise has on its own, give him a clear case for the GOAT title, or at least the greatest quarterback to step on the gridiron. However, other positions impact the game too, perhaps none more than the pass rusher position. 

The undisputed king of the edge rush group is Lawrence Taylor. The New York Giants drafted University of North Carolina edge rusher Lawrence Taylor in the 1981 draft and he played his entire 13-year career for Big Blue. Though the NFL did not record sacks as an official stat until Taylor’s second season, he retired with 132.5 sacks to his name. Taylor’s dominance contributed to two super bowl victories for the Giants and earned him a place in Canton.

The Case for Taylor

Taylor played in a much more physical brand of football than Brady. The 1980s were a decade chalked full of hard-nosed coaches who were focused on establishing a dominant running game. Taylor had to play the run more often than contemporary edge rushers. Taylor was not only a force against the run, but he also terrorized opposing quarterbacks. For his entire career, Taylor wreaked havoc on offenses. In his best season, he even won Most Valuable Player. In that season, Taylor posted 20.5 sacks, 105 tackles, and even defended 5 passes. Taylor was arguably in the prime of his career during every season he played. At a position where it is difficult to remain elite for more than half a decade, Taylor’s 13-year stretch of elite play is a marvel. 

A significant part of the case for Taylor rests on the idea that Brady’s success was a product of his environment, thus making him unworthy of the GOAT title. Tom Brady played under the greatest coach of all time and had an outstanding roster for most of his New England tenure. In addition, Brady’s Patriots cheated during the deflate-gate saga.  

The Case for Brady

Tom Brady’s career screams excellence. Part of what makes Brady’s career so special is the lack of expectations that he came in with. An unathletic sixth-round pick, pick 199 to be exact, has no business leading a franchise to the playoffs. Brady is second all-time in passing yards, but he will lead Drew Brees this season. Brady is only ten passing touchdowns behind Brees as well, meaning he will be the leader in both categories when he retires. After the 2020 season, Tom Brady has 79,204 passing yards, 581 passing touchdowns, and five Super Bowl MVPs. Counting statistics do not do Brady’s career justice. His consistent excellence (16 division titles in the past 18 years) and late-career resurgence in Tampa Bay have elevated him into the conversation of the greatest athlete of all time in a team sport. And, the craziest part of Brady’s career is that he has shown no signs of slowing down. Since 2014, Brady’s PFF grade has yet to dip below 80. In 2020, Brady posted an elite grade of 93.3, good for second at the position behind Aaron Rodgers. With at least two more years in Tampa on a star-studded roster, it wouldn’t be shocking for Brady to win an eighth or ninth super bowl. 

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